Internal email says employees took merchandise specifically donated to help homeless veterans at Stand Down held by Atlanta VA.

by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

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In September, the word went out that the Atlanta VA facility (actually in Decatur, GA) was going to hold a Stand Down on Saturday October 3, 2009.

The Stand Down would provide goods and services to homeless veterans.

Local veterans service organizations got involved and Elks Lodge 111 in Columbus, GA began a drive to collect needed items for homeless veterans, as mentioned in the newspaper article below:

The VA will be passing out sweatshirts, sweatpants, caps, gloves, gift cards, soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo, razors, first aid kits and other items. The VA will also use lots of coffee, paper products, towels and shaving kits to support the services provided on Oct. 3. The list from the VA includes games like chess, checkers, cards, Sudoku and crossword puzzles.

The author of the article, a retired Army Colonel, went on to say:

If more people helped those around us we might not have some of the troubles in society that we have. I also think it’s especially worthwhile to help veterans. Veterans have already extended their helping hand to the nation. The least we can do is help those in trouble now. Therefore, this project is a kind and generous act worth supporting.

The complete article is here ...
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/43
2/story/839906.html

In another article, in The Champion newspaper, we find this from Mary Lou Pittman, head of the Atlanta VA's Voluntary Services:

“The homeless vets often arrive tired and worn down. They take a shower, get a meal and get medical attention,” said Pittman.  But it doesn't end there. “We also follow up with them. Some will leave with housing referrals and appointments for further care,” she continued.

That article is here ...
http://www1.va.gov/atlanta/docs/Stand-Down.pdf

But, the "follow up" mentioned by Pittman didn't go quite as planned.

According to an internal VA email obtained by VA Watchdog dot Org, VA staff members took "non-distributed (leftover) donations."

Although the email says that this appeared to be caused by "confusion and misunderstanding," that is just impossible to believe.

The Stand Down items were donated specifically to homeless veterans and other veterans in need. 

And, in reality, there are no "leftover" donations because every item must be returned to the department running the Stand Down (usually Voluntary Services) so they can be distributed as other veterans in need are identified.

What we have here is outright theft! 

How can a VA employee believe that something donated to a homeless veteran belongs to them?

Below is commentary from Veterans' Advocate Jim Strickland who received the internal email from a VA employee:

The long suffering VA employee wrote to me today to tell me:

"Jim, I just wanted you to see how the homeless veterans are sometimes cheated by those who serve them. I just had to let you know. I appreciate all you do for us veterans." (See VA email below.)

I wish I'd been shocked or at least surprised. Stealing from the homeless, shredding the files of veterans in need of benefits, losing sensitive data about veterans and the general attitude of arrogance and invulnerability of the VA employee have left me feeling numb. Nothing surprises me in 2009.

I'm trying to get an accurate assessment of just how much and exactly what was stolen. Clothing, blankets, personal care items and so on are the usual targets...particularly the donated clothing. By all indicators it was enough that those who perpetrated the theft are being identified and targeted for criminal charges right now.

You can bet that when you see, "..staff will be provided amnesty if merchandise is returned voluntarily.." it's no small thing. And for my money...no amnesty, none. A thief is a thief and should be prosecuted as a thief. One of the biggest issues at our VA today is that total lack of accountability.

This memo from Cheryl Freeman (below) perpetuates that feeling in the VA that you can't be spanked for anything you do. That shouldn't happen in this case. Theft is bad enough in any circumstance. For a guardian of the down and out veteran to happily steal from him or her deserves no amnesty, no forgiveness.

Following is the internal VA email explaining the situation and offering "amnesty" to VA employees if the stolen items are returned:

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From: Freeman, Cheryl (ATG)

Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 7:49 AM

To: Abrams, Beverly; ADAMS-SAPP, ESTELLER; Anderson, Adrian; Arbiser,
Jack; ARRINDELL, YVETTE C, VBAATLD; Banegas, Reina; BARNES, RICHARD,
VBAATLD; Bernard, Irmalinda; Bollavaram, Kavita MD; Bradford, Patricia
A.; Bratcher, Garry; Brown, Robin; Campbell, Aufre; Campbell, Regina
[Prov]; Carter, Gloria; Cleveland, Lilian; COLLINS, BRIAN; Combs,
Deborah; Conkrite, Virginia; Cornett, Leslie; Craft, Christopher;
Crockett, Donna; Daney, Melvin; Deloach, Sylena; Demosthenes, Charles
MD; Deshommes, Robert; Edwards, Ava; Edwards, Lori A; Effa, Lemmy MD;
ELLIS, BETTY, VBAATLD; ELLISON, PRISCILLA G., VBAATLD; Escalea,
Candice; EVANS, ALYCIA; Feaster, Willie; Field, Norman; FORD, LUVERA,
VBAALTD; Frenchman, Jeffrey; FULTZ, CHRISTINA; George, Deslyn; Green,
Valerie; Green, Vernon; Gupta, Aneesh; Hall, Earnest; Hall, Jesse;
Hampton, Patrick; HOLMAN, TIMOTHY, VBAATLD; Holmes, Denise; Horner,
Johnathan; Horton, Donald; Jackson, Johnny (ATG); Jackson, Theresa;
Jeffress, Kristian; Jenkins, Patricia; Johnson, Anna; Johnson, Anna
J.; JONES, ARIEL; Jones, Constance; JONES, DAVID, VBAATLD;
Jones-Taylor, Cedrella MD; Joseph, GiGi; Kelly, Jocelyn; KILCREASE,
ASHLEY, VBAATLD; Kim, Anna; Kumar, Shaleena; Kumar, Shantanu; Lecarme,
Shelia; Lee, Julia A.; LEWIS, JASON; LUTHI, KATHERINE; Lynch, Maeve;
Lynch, Tincie; McKeown, Alexis; MCQUAID, KEITH; Mead, Patricia;
Melton, Brenda; Michaels, Andrea; Michels, Andrea; Miller, Michael;
Mincey, Dale; Mitchell, Terry; Mitchell-Askew, Tammie; Moni, Lizzette;
Moore, Cynthia; Murad, Sherrill; Nixon, Brent; NORRIS, MICHAEL,
VBAATLD; Onuorah, Emeka; Payan, John; Pittman, Jamya; Pittman, Mary
Lou; Pittman, Robert; Platt, Susan; Polensek, Sharon; Ponkshe, Sanjay
MD; POWER, KENYONNA, VBAATLD; RANDLES, KAREN; Ratcliffe, Ken; Reed,
Denise; Reid, Rory; Reid, Vanessa; RIFAY, LAILA; Sanders, Donnell;
Scott, Xavier; Shoffner, Karen MD; Shumake, Jim; Sigler, Sharon;
SISTRUNK, BRANDON; Smith, Paul (DOD); Springer, Donna; Stanley,
Tamecia L.; Taylor-Solano, Beth; Thomas, Adrian J.; Thomas, Arthur;
THOMAS, DEBRA C.; THOMAS, DIANE, VBAATLD; Thompson, Rochelle; THROWER,
CAROLYN S.; Toler, Annette; Tran, Peter Tung.; Trimiar, Paula; Turner,
Chris; Tutt, Chandila; Viree, Wilma; Walker, Rita; WAN, JOHN;
Watson-Williams, Phyllis MD; WEBSTER, MONIQUE; Weiss, Gregory;
Willard, Christopher; Williams, Ferdinand; Williams, Julita; WILLIAMS,
KENNETH G, VBAATLD; Williams, Vera; Williams, Verna; WILLIE, LATICIA;
Wilson, Lisa; Yates, Deborah; YOUNG, LEAHNA

Cc: Amin, Farooq MD (Atlanta); Turner-Reid, Jenifer; Griggs, Howard;
Lawhead, Judy

Subject: FW: Stand Down Items

Importance: High

First we want to thank all the staff who worked so hard to assist our homeless veterans during last Saturday's Stand Down. Due to everyone’s efforts and enthusiasm this event was perhaps the most comprehensive and successful stand down by our VAMC.

Unfortunately, there was some confusion and misunderstanding by some VA staff regarding taking non-distributed (leftover) donations. All employees/volunteers who received non-distributed (left over) donations must return the items to Grounds by Tuesday, Oct. 20th so they can be used by the Homeless Program and various other VA programs to support our homeless veterans. As an act of good faith in returning the merchandise from Stand Down, staff will be provided amnesty if merchandise is returned voluntarily.

Regulations concerning the acceptance of these non-distributed items are below for your reference:

VHA Handbook 4721 paragraph 11(a) states that "No gift may be accepted or used for a purpose that is neither authorized by law nor directly beneficial to VA patients while receiving care from VA.", and paragraph 12(a) states "General. All GPF related expenditures incurred must comply with established VA financial policy and procedures. No gift may be used for a purpose that is not either authorized by law or directly beneficial to VA patients while receiving care from VA."

Misuse of Position

Executive branch employees must not use their public office for their own or another's private gain. Employees are not to use their position, title or any authority associated with their office to coerce or induce a benefit for themselves or others. Employees also are not to use or allow the improper use of nonpublic information to further a private interest, either their own or another's. Employees may use Government property only for authorized purposes. Government property includes office supplies, telephones, computers, copiers and any other property purchased with Government funds.

Employees may not misuse official time. This includes the employee's own time as well as the time of a subordinate.

Reference: 5 C.F.R. §§ 2635.701-705.

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Not one VA employee is going to be able to say, "I didn't know."  They all knew that they were stealing donations meant for homeless and needy veterans.

For every item stolen, there is a veteran somewhere whose day-to-day life is now a little more difficult.

I wonder how the members of Elks Lodge 111 feel about their donations being stolen?  And, how about the retired Army Colonel who so eloquently urged public support of the Stand Down?

I agree with Jim Strickland:  No amnesty.  Prosecute them!

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For a gallery of photos taken at the Stand Down, click here ...
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro
/atlanta/homeless-veterans-care/

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, homeless, Stand Down, theft of property